J
J Hanley Jackson (1939– ) USA Tangents (SP 1974) 11pp. 42 min. For piano and prerecorded tape. The piano score notates tape sounds. Tape, which contains both electronic and piano sounds, is in two versions: tape part by itself, tape in a performance with Margaret Walker, pianist. Divided sections: Very slow—Slow—Rhythmic. Colorful, rhythmic, octotonic, pointillistic. M-D. Maurice Jacobson (1896–1976) Great Britain Carousal (Lengnick 1946) 16pp. A colorful tone poem. Freely tonal. Highly attractive Alla Musette mid-section. M-D. Romantic Theme and Variations (Lengnick 1946) 18pp. Theme dates from 1910, variations from 1944. Six well-constructed and developed variations that have an MC ®avor reminiscent of Rachmaninoff. Effective. M-D. Rhené Jacque (1918– ) Canada This is the pen name of Soeur Jacque-René, who teaches at the École Vincent d’Indy in Outrement, Quebec. Suite pour Piano Op.11 (BMI Canada 1961) Five short contrasted movements, neoclassic in style. The last movement, G, is colorfully written. Int. Deuxième Suite (BMI Canada 1964). Prélude: light, airy, graceful. Impressions: introspective. Toccate: brilliant, ¤ts ¤ngers well, requires a good octave technique. M-D. Marie Jaëll (1846–1925) France Jaëll studied with Moscheles in Stuttgart; Herz, Franck, and St. Saëns in Paris; and Liszt in Weimar. In 1893, in Paris, she was the ¤rst to play all 32 of Beethoven ’s sonatas in a series. Piano Sonata (L. Schmidt-Rogers—Hildegard Publishing Co.) Dedicated to Liszt. Essentially written in Romantic style, this work shows that Jaëll was familiar with the most recent compositional thinking of her day. M-D to D. Agi Jambor (1909–1997) USA, born Hungary Sonata (Hildegard 1997) 22pp. Allegro appassionata; Epitaph-Andante teneremente ; Allegro. Full of tension throughout; MC. M-D. Leoš JanáCek (1854–1928) Czechoslovakia Janácek’s study of his native Moravian folk music formed the character of all his thematic invention. His music skillfully integrates folk materials into valid artis427 tic entities. The piano works are refreshingly far from the gigantism of much of the piano writing of their time. Sonata der Strasse: I-X. 1905 (Artia; MMP) 13 min. The Presentment: ®uid lines. The Death: processional rhythms. Inspired by the death of a worker in a demonstration. Romantic in tone, declamatory in manner. Full of lyric feeling and dark, re®ective lament. M-D. The Overgrown Path 1901–1908 (Artia; MMP) 53pp. 22 min. Ten pieces inspired by memories of childhood. According to the composer, who described them in a letter to his ¤ancée, “They are quite nice, and I consider them my ¤rst entirely correct works.” In nineteenth-century character-piece tradition . Int. to M-D. In the Mist 1912 (Hudební Matice 1938; MMP) 21pp. 14 min. Andante; Molto adagio; Andantino; Presto. More concentrated and more concise in motif and mood than The Overgrown Path. Uses the whole-tone scale;fragmented melodic lines, infrequent angry explosions. Veiled in Impressionistic ®oating chords of mystical beauty. Some of Janácek’s ¤nest piano writing. All four pieces are pervaded by a melancholy mood, clear-cut form. Each has a contrasting middle section. M-D. 12 Popular Moravian Dances (Ric).Short pieces. Folk dances with strong rhythms. Words for the songs are in Czech. All commentaries and instructions are in Italian. Left hand required to leap from low octaves to full chords and therefore demands a good hand span. Int. to M-D. Zedenka Variations Op.1 1880 (MMP). Schumannesque, well controlled, imaginative technique. M-D. National Dances of Moravia (MMP). 23 pieces, settings of Moravian dance tunes. Notes in Czech. Int. to M-D. Piano Miniatures Book I. Intime Skizzen (Editio Moravia). 13 pieces: some sketches, some incomplete. Int. to M-D. Piano Miniatures Book II. Moravian Dances (Editio Moravia). 25 dances. M-D. Complete Works, Vol.I, Piano Works (Edition Supraphon and Br, available in USA through European American Music) 160pp. Preface in Czech, German , English, French, and Russian. Critical note in Czech and Russian. Includes an essay on the origin of the works in English, Czech, and German. Variations for Zedenka, Op.1; 3 Moravian Dances; X. 1905; On an Overgrown Path I, II; In the Mist; A Recollection; Music for Exercise with Clubs; The Madonna of Frydek, version for harmonium. These pieces follow more the poetic tradition of Schumann than the Liszt or Chopin tradition . See: Lorna Tedesco, “The Piano Music of Janácek,” Clavier, 31/4 (April 1992):14. Brief commentary on October 1, 1905 and On an Overgrown Path. Includes music...
OR
Buy This Book in Print